Weather News

Mayor warns against watering down federal disaster recovery funds

Thursday June 19, 2014 - 10:54 EST

The Western Downs Mayor says he is concerned possible changes to the funding model for flood recovery could leave the region short-changed.

The Australian Local Government Association Conference in Canberra has heard the Federal Government may only be able to match the State Government's contribution to rebuilding infrastructure after a natural disaster.

The Commonwealth covers 75 per cent of the cost and the state 25 per cent under current natural disaster arrangements.

"The Federal Government's saying we've got no funding, State Government's saying they've got no funding but our community when they're under devastation like that, whether it be floods, fires, cyclones whatever, [the] expectation is to rebuild your community as quick as possible," he said.

"Now if they're only prepared to match the state's funding then we've got real problems ahead of us."